6/08/09 – by Tom O’Shea aka/Lawdog

THE ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES    AAA  

ISOTOPES lose 5-4.

The Isotopes were beaten by Oklahoma City 5-4 despite the masterful pitching of James MCDONALD (4..24), and THREETS (H, 1.86) as STRICKLAND (BS, 1) (0-1, 5.09) gave up 4 runs in the 9th to literally give away a game that by all standards should have been won. 

MCDONALD pitched 7 innings of 1 run (earned) 4 hit ball.  He walked 2 and struck out 10 for a quality start..  THREETS pitched a no hit no run 8th and then the wheels came off the wagon  for STRICKLAND in the 9th.

The Isotopes got some quality offense once again as JONES (.288) blasted yet another home run in the 6th inning–his 19th of the season.  Every night it seems like this 30 year old “prospect” hits another.  He’s gone at least 3 or 4 consecutive games with a home run and tonight he went 2-3 to raise his average to .288.  He’s come up at least 20 points in the last 30 days.  He might be a late bloomer, but he’s proving that there’s not much at AAA that he hasn’t now mastered.  It’s a shame we don’t have anywhere to play another RF in Los Angeles.  REPKO (.272), also homered, his 9th.  Third baseman LUNA (.366), whacked his 13th double.

Besides JONES, catcher ELLIS (.339), and 1B PASCUCCI (.221) also collected 2 hits each for the evening.

It was a night for the ages until disaster struck in the top of the 9th.  LUNA, ELLIS and JONES all showed once again that they belong in the show.  McDONALD and THREETS looked like major league material as well.

THE CHATTANOOGA  LOOKOUTS   AA  

LOOKOUTS lose 3-2.

Tennessee edged our Lookouts in 10 innings by a score of 3-2.  CASTILLO (4.82), pitched a “quality start” going 6.1 innings and gave up just 2 runs, both earned, on 5 his, 1 walk while registering 4 strikeouts.  KOSS (2.08), went 1.2 innings of perfect relief , fanning 3.  RODRIGUEZ (L, 4-2, 3.12), took the loss giving up the lasrt run (earned) on 2 hits in 1.1 innings.

The Lookouts managed 9 hits, all singles.  2B MERCEDES (.144) led the team going 3-4. 1B PEREZ (.291), went 2-4.

THE INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS  A ADVANCED 

66ERS lose 6-3.

The 66ers lost to Lake Elsinore yet again  on monday night falling 6-3.

Our team managed 8 hits and we’re led by VAN SLYKE’S (.325), solo shot in the 6th and 2 doubles by Don Mattingly’s son.  Preston MATTINGLY (.293) hit his 6th and 7th doubles of the year and went 2-4 for the night.  VAN SLYKE also went 2-4.
THE GREAT LAKES LOONS   LOW A

Game rained out.